US-based eSports promoter Super League Gaming has received $15m in series C funding from investors including media and entertainment producer DMG Entertainment and Nickelodeon, a division of media group Viacom.
The round also featured conglomerate Cali Group, eSports platform and ownership group Axiomatic, an undisclosed fund managed by telecommunications and internet firm SoftBank, venture capital firm Toba Capital and various professional sports team owners.
Founded in 2014, Super League operates a range of eSports games and tournaments both online and in film theatres which double as live gaming arenas. The games on which it currently focuses are Minecraft and League of Legends.
Axiomatic and Toba had previously invested $5m in Super League in October 2016, after the company had raised an amount indicated by a securities filing to be $4.5m from theatre owner Cinemark, the SoftBank-affiliated fund and unnamed institutions in Hong Kong and Singapore in 2015.
Super League had previously raised approximately $1.6m in equity funding, and has also secured $8.3m in debt financing, according to regulatory filings.
Matthew Evans, executive vice-president of digital and new business for Nickelodeon, said: “We are excited to enter the world of eSports through our relationship with Super League, which has a loyal and growing fan base of kids.
“Nickelodeon is interested in eSports because gaming is an important passion point for kids today, and forging this partnership with Super League puts us at the forefront of where kids will be playing next.”